If you’re visiting England and considering coming to the Cotswolds, you won’t be disappointed with the magnificent views of the countryside. Getting to the Cotswolds is easy as there’s a direct train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh taking only 1 hour and 40 minutes, so it is worth planning to explore the region on a daytrip. The Cotswolds is a beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty that covers 800 square miles and includes several counties in the south-west of England.
Cotswold Farm Park
Cotswold Farm Park was awarded the Farm Attraction of The Year at the National Farm Attractions Network in 2014 and is owned by TV celebrity Adam Henson from ITV’s Countryfile. The farm was passed down to Adam from his father Joe Henson whose passion for farming had been around since the 1940s. The farm park is known for its rare breeds that include cattle, goats, pigs, horses and ponies and sheep. The older breeds are being reduced at the park because there are now in low numbers and sadly some breeds have been lost forever. The farm park is very popular throughout summer and during the lambing season where schools and children visit to experience the birthing of the lambs. There are also many friendly petting areas where you can hold and stroke the animals in the park. The farm park also offers experiences including Bush craft courses, learning how to forage, shelter building workshops, game preparation, fire lighting sessions, whittling and natural navigation with the compass.
Batsford Arboretum
At Batsford Arboretum you will find stunning Japanese maples, beautiful bamboo, aromatic Magnolia and stunning mountain ash and whitebeam Sorbus trees. Batsford Arboretum has a huge range of plants from all around the world but has an emphasis on the Far East. With over 2850 specimens including around 1300 different trees, bamboo and shrubs, the arboretum is a popular place to visit. It has a huge range of Japanese flowering trees that have a lifespan of only around 50 years. Batsford takes part in the International Conifer Conservation Project which is run by the World Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. It also has red data plant material for many other gardens in England, including Bedgebury, Westonbirt and Kew Gardens. The arboretum is a stunning place to visit at any time of year. In spring, there are thousands of flowering bulbs, snowdrops, aconite’s, daffodils and narcissi alongside beautiful blossoms of magnolia flower and cherries. Carpets of bluebells arrive here later in May and in the summer and you can sit by the pools and streams soaking up the sunshine. You will be surrounded by beautiful Wildflower areas that include buttercups, orchids, forget-me-nots and foxgloves. In the autumn, Batsford Arboretum is an incredibly beautiful place where you will see an abundance of berries, crimson colours, orange, red and yellow leaves as the trees glorify the colour in the countryside.
The Cotswold Falconry Centre
The Cotswold Falconry Centre near Moreton-in-Marsh has an enormous range of rare birds including Vultures, Eagles, Hawks, Buzzards, Owls, Falcons, Harriers and Secretary birds. The centre runs special experiences for visitors and people who are interested in different species of birds including an Own evening and an Eagle day that encourages you to get up and close with Eagles, teaching you all there is to know as you watch them sour over the Cotswold Hills. They are incredible flying displays with over 130 birds with 60 different that take place every day in a close environment. You can learn about the birds, find out about the different species and learn how they hunt and catch their prey. There are also native birds from the Cotswolds that include Sparrowhawks, Common Buzzards, Peregrine Falcons, Red Kites, Common Kestrels and wild Barn Owls that rest and breed at the centre every year.
Secret Cottage Tour
If you’re visiting the Cotswolds for a tour or a daytrip, then you can see all the best areas and attractions with the Secret Cottage Tour. Visitors travelling from London can take a direct train to Moreton-in-Marsh from Paddington where you are picked up in our 7-seater luxury Mercedes minibus. We will make sure you see some beautiful Cotswold stately homes, the best Cotswold attractions, the prettiest villages and charming market towns of the area. We stop for a drink and pastry at the Secret Cottage (our home) in the morning then return for a delicious homemade buffet lunch. We also treat our guests to a tasty traditional Cotswold cream tea in the afternoon. A Cotswold tour is a magical experience, so make sure you book soon!